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Tag: ‘Councils

  • PDP ‘ll win in 15 councils

    PDP ‘ll win in 15 councils

    Godwin Isichei is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State. In this interview with Osagie Otabor, he explains why the party will win the governorship poll.

    What is your assessment of the campaigns?

    The dimension the campaign is taking is worrisome. There are so much personal insults. The campaign ought to be based on issues and programmes; but so far it is insults. In my opinion, Edo people want to see electioneering campaigns based on issues.

    Are you sure your party, the PDP, will win?

    We will win comfortably; I can assure you that. Going by the present situation, with the job we have done, we have already secured 15 local governments in our kitty. On September 10, if 15 local governments are not announced in our favour, most of us will resign from politics. The indices and signals are clear. Look at Edo South, Edo North to Edo Central, I can tell you we are going to win this election. It is not by hook or crook. It is not by rigging. The people are with us. APC members are deceiving themselves. They should go down to the grassroots to feel their pulse. Even Edo North where the governor comes from. Do your opinion polls and you will find out that Pastor Ize -Iyamu will come out tops in the election. His programmes are clear, his messages are direct to the people and they believe him. Interview most of the traditional rulers.

    You were once with Oshiomhole, what happened?

    He is a friend and a brother, but there are some certain things we see in him which are not good for a politician. Maybe because of his labour background, that is why he treats people with disrespect. There are many people who are supposed to guide Oshiomhole in terms of decision-making process. In governance, you don’t work with your ideas alone. I believe that he stepped on many toes and, for that reason, not many people are ready to work with him this time. Even in his own party, a number of them are deceiving him. When elections are getting near, they will unveil themselves. His cabinet members are with Pastor Ize-Iyamu. They are behind laughing.

    What is the PDP preaching to the people?

    The PDP is preaching to the people that when they come to power, there will be bursary payment to students, teachers will be recruited, youths will be empowered. You see the army of unemployed youths in the streets, it is not good. Industries will be revived through the PPP arrangement. The Bendel Brewery is down, Edo Line is an eye sore; you see what has become of other enterprises that the state supposed to use as a vehicle to employ and engage our youths. The PDP is ready to revive all these. The PDP is giving hope towards rehabilitation of schools, providing infrastructure; there are a number of areas denied those infrastructure the government is talking about. Look at Okpella, you will see the sorry state of the community. It was Okpella that enabled him to win Estako East and on that premise, he was able to go to the tribunal. Okpella repeated the same thing in 2012 and they got nothing in return. Go to Akoko Edo. There is general discontentment about most of his policies and the way he goes about them. He feels he has done well; he is satisfied, but let the people speak on September 10.

    A PDP member defected to the APC in Edo North and he claimed to be the party’s coordinator…

    Barr. Seidu is not the PDP campaign coordinator. Hussein Garuba is the Edo North Coordinator. Barr. Seidu was long removed as the coordinator because of his inconsistencies. He is not a member of the PDP. If he claims to be one, it is a lie.

    Don Pedro Obaseki said it is a lie for any candidate to promise bursary payment…

    We know what to do in that aspect. The PDP as a party has put together a team of economic experts that have worked out how the revenue will be generated to meet the needs of the people. We don’t want to depend on Abuja. Any government that depends on Abuja does not know what to do. We will never depend on Abuja. I believe Ize-Iyamu will implement those policies that will yield good finance to meet the people need.

    Is your party going to increase taxes to get revenue?

    No. There are lot of policies that we have packaged through the PPP arrangement. In Edo North, there are untapped mineral resources. We are going to bring in people to explore those minerals. Through all these, we will be able to raise a lot of money. All these were not touch in the past eight years. Ize-Iyamu as a governor will succeed.

  • Fed Govt, states, councils owe contractors N2.4tr

    The National Contractors Association of Nigeria has said the Federal Government, all the 36 states and 774 Local Government Areas are owing contractors N2.42 trillion.

    Federal Government alone is owing contractors N1.97 trillion, the group lamented.

    Its National Chairman, Hon. Onuche Okoh, who spoke yesterday  with reporters in Abuja on the agony of the members of the association, lamented that the non-payment of contractors has affected the welfare of his members.  He lamented that the association has lost about 579 members to heart attack.

    While supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration fight against graft, Okoh appealed urged the president to look at the issue of welfare of contractors.

    He said the non-payment has been for years especially on contracts that have been executed.

    “By our statistics, the Federal Government alone is owing contactors about N1.97 trillion and if you add that together with the 36 states, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the 774 Local Government Areas is put at N2.42trillion.

    “The association is fully in support of the President Buhari administration’s fight against corruption and since the change mantra is for the common people, we wish to passionately appeal to the president to quickly take a look at the issue of the welfare of contractors over the years especially on contracts that have been executed.”

  • Fed Govt, states, councils share N305.128b

    • Workers force minister to trek

    The three tiers of government heaved a sigh of relief as they shared N305.128 billion at the end of the May Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja as against N281.5 billion shared in previous month.

    The slight improvement in revenue was as a result increased accruals into the Federation Account from non-oil and mineral revenue sources in May.

    Minster of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun told reporters at the end of the meeting that   statutory allocation and Value Added Tax (VAT) also recorded slight improvements during the month under review.

    According to the finance minister, N237.466 billion was available for statutory allocation compared to N213.817 billion realised last month, while VAT improved slightly to N62.649 billion compared to N62.511 billion shared last month.

    Mrs. Adeosun announced that a gross statutory revenue of N237.566 billion was received for the month, which was higher than the N213.817 billion received in the previous month by N23.649 billion.

    According her, “Companies Income Tax( CIT) recorded a marginal increase even as the time for companies to file their returns is yet to fall due.”

    Of the net statutory allocation of N230.9 billion approved for sharing, the Federal Government got N122.830 billion, states  N57.229 billion; Local governemnt councils  N44.121 billion while oil producing states received N16.738 billion representing their share of 13 per cent derivation.

    The balance in Excess crude account remained unchanged at $2.261 billion.

    Meanwhile, the protesting staff of the Finance ministry have given the minister a seven- day ultimatum to meet their demand for improved welfare or face another protest.

    A source privy to the meeting between the minister and aggrieved staff told reporters that “the staff gave the notice at a brief meeting convened yesterday morning by the minister. The Minister having listened to our complaints told the staff that, there was no money to implement their demand and she urged them to be patient for the economy to improve, but we would have none of her excuse”.

  • Akiolu: councils’ funds seizure affected Lagos growth

    Akiolu: councils’ funds seizure affected Lagos growth

    Oba Riliwanu Akiolu of Lagos has said the seizure of Local Government funds by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration contributed to the slow pace of the state’s development.

    Akiolu spoke at an inaugural lecture, which is part of activities for the Lagos State at 50 Anniversary in Lagos.

    The Obasanjo-led administration withheld Lagos state local government funds, following the creation of 37 new local council development areas (LCDAs) under former Governor Bola Tinubu.

    The state’s refusal to cancel the LCDAs as directed by the Federal Government led to the withholding of funds meant for the 20 existing local governments.

    Akiolu said Tinubu, with all his development plans would have done much for the state, but for the seizure of the allocation.

    According to the monarch, Lagos state would have been far developed by now.

    “Senator Bola Tinubu came with robust development plans for Lagos State, but he could not do so much because of the seizure of local governments’ funds. But he laid the foundation upon which his successors had been building.

    “The state was blessed with Governor Babatunde Fashola, and now, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. These governors have taken Lagos to an enviable height with unassailable internally generated revenue,” he said.

    Akiolu urged political office holders to be sincere and honest in all their dealings.

    He also urged residents to support the government as it strives to develop the state and make life comfortable for them.

  • Four year tenure: Will councils peform better?

    Four year tenure: Will councils peform better?

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has amended the Local Government Administration Law. Correspondent Oziegbe Okoeki examines the amendment, the reactions of stakeholders, the merits and the demerits of the law and its implications for grassroots governance.

    The next local government election in Lagos State will be conducted by the Lagos State Independent National Electoral Commission (LASIEC), based on the amended Local Government Administrative Law.

    The tenure of the elected officials of the councils expired in 2014. Due to the inability of the commission to conduct elections as a result of the lack of a voter’s register from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and the non-delineation of voting units, former Governor Babatunde Fashola appointed care-taker committees headed by Executive Secretaries to run the affairs of the 57 local councils. Since then the caretaker committees have been in charge of grassroots administration.

    However, the House of Assembly has passed three major laws as part of the preparations for the polls. These are: the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment) Law, 2015; the Lagos State Local Government Election Tribunal (Amendment) Law, 2015 and the Lagos State Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law 2015. These laws take care of the lacuna in elections, election petitions and local government administrations.

    However, mixed feelings have trailed the amendment to the local government administration law among politicians, parties and analysts.

    Two provisions or clauses are generating controversy. They have to do with the tenure of council chairmen and councillors and the suspension/removal of erring chairmen or vice chairmen.

    The law has increased the tenure of elected councillors and chairmen from three to four years. According to Section 12(1), “the Council shall stand dissolved at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date when the Councillors take and subscribe to their Oath of Membership.” Section 27(1) provides that: “A person elected as Chairman shall hold office for a term of four years commencing from when the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office is administered.”

    The second section gives the House of Assembly a role in the removal or suspension of the chairmen and vice chairmen after the councillors have satisfied the provisions in Section 24. Section 24(A)(1,2,3 & 4) states as follows: The House of Assembly may after necessary investigation (of the allegations) pass a resolution by two-third majority of members for the removal or suspension of any chairman, vice chairman or any elected official/political appointee of any local government area in the interest of peace, order and good governance of the state.

    The resolution of the House of Assembly passed in accordance with subsection (1) above shall be communicated to the governor for implementation.

    Where the governor fails to implement the resolution of the House in respect of the above, he shall communicate his refusal within 14 days of the notification of the resolution stated in subsection (1) of this section to the House;

    In the event of such communication of refusal or non communication by the governor after 14 days of notification of the resolution for removal, the House of Assembly may by two-third majority of  members pass a resolution removing or suspending such chairman, vice chairman or any elected official/political appointee and such resolution shall take immediate effect.

    At the stakeholders meeting on the amendment, the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Legal Adviser Sodiq Ademola frowned at Section 2,4 which gives power to the House to remove or suspend erring council chairman, saying it contravenes the principle of the separation of power.

    He said: “We are not opposed to the elongation of the council tenure; it will save huge cost of running elections every three year, but on Section 24, the party is opposed to a situation where the House can remove council chairmen, the council chairman should remain with the council, the House can only recommend to the councillors to remove or suspend their chairmen upon investigation of a petition”.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Administration and Community Affairs, Hon. Kazeem Alimi, said the amendment is designed to conform to the emerging socio-political and economic realities of the local government administration in Nigeria. While the sponsor of the bill, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said Section 24(a) of the Bill was not meant to witch-hunt anyone, but to ensure a strong and effective grassroots administration. The amendment is meant to improve service delivery.

    He said: “The law is to ensure efficient and progressive local government. Being the government closest to the people, it will bring development to the local people”.

    Defending Section 24 at the public hearing, Majority Sanai Agunbiade said nothing in the law will prevent the governor without prompting to suspend any chairman, vice chairman or council official, if it is in the interest of peace, order and good governance of the state, pending the investigation referred to in the law. He explained that the House’s  intervention would come as a last resort when the councillors are so incapacitated to handle any offence involving the chairman, stressing that the House did not have any ulterior motive.

    Alimi said the political class is happy with the new law. He added: “The increase in the number of years is what they have long expected and the intendment is for it to be in consonance with what obtains with other elective positions at the federal and state level which is four years per term.”

    Former Chairman of Ayobo/Ipaja Local Council Development Council (LCDA) and a member of the House, Hon. Bisi Yusuf, said the extension of the tenure is the best thing that could happen to the councils. He said it will give the chairmen sufficient time and opportunity to settle down, plan and execute projects that will impact positively on the people. “Four years is okay. Even, if you have to adjust to the new office for a year, you will still have enough time to work and you won’t have any excuse for not performing. It is also a better arrangement because operatives at the other tier of government spend four years. This was not justified. It is not good. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. But it has to be four years of useful service delivery to the people,” Yusuf stressed.

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, Hon. Olusegun Akande (Ojo 1 Constituency), said: “We want Lagos that is working and that is why it is good to let them have a four year term so that they would be able to finish whatever they started. For three years tenure, they can only work for two years because the third year will be an election year and at the end of the day, they won’t be able to do anything. So, for continuity and for development to continue at that level, it is better to allow them use four years.”

    His colleague in the minority caucus, Hon. Olusola Sokunle from Oshodi/Isolo 1 Constituency, said the amendment is a unanimous decision of the House, adding that it is binding on every member of the House. He added: “Organising election consumes money and by the time you extend the time a bit, it will serve a better purpose and reduce cost. Three years seem to be too early, too quick, too soon to organise election when we are even thinking of extending the four years to about a five year single tenure.

    “In politics, when you assume power, you need to get yourself stable in the first year and there is a little you will achieve in that one year. In the second year, you will be planning to do one or two things. In the third year, when you are supposed to continue with your programme, you will be planning for election. That means the only year you have to attend to your constituents will be a year. The local government is the grassroots level. So, three years will not be okay.”

    Section 27(4) empowers the House to remove/suspend any erring chairman or vice chairman after the governor fails to implement its resolution after 14 days. Alimi said the section has generated mixed feelings. He stressed: “Some feel it is a good development while others feel it might be for witch-hunt, but the House does not believe in witch-hunt.

    “The creation of local government, the administration and funding are in the hand of the House. So, if it deems it fit to empower itself to remove or suspend a council chairman, I don’t think it is too much. Besides, the intendment is to put them on their toes; nobody is witch-hunting anybody.”

    Alimi said the provision that empowers the councillors to remove or suspend the chairman is not affected by the amendment. He added: “Section 24(a) is just addressing the issue of a petition to the House or an allegation against a chairman written to the House, which is in the old law. The only area added to that section is the sub-section that states that after 14 days, if the governor did not communicate back to the House, then, a two-third majority of the House can pass the resolution and the erring chairman or vice chairman stands removed or suspended.”

    Alimi said.

    Yusuf agreed with Alimi, saying: “The House creates and determines the lifespan of the local government and it also has the power to terminate what it created.”

    Sokunle said: “We all say our chairmen don’t work because the law is not there. There is no way we will be able to caution them. It is not just removing them anyhow; it is a caution. We don’t want them to see themselves as mini-gods. So, if you are there, it doesn’t mean you are everything. We will still be able to call them to order.”

    Akande said there are times when a chairman is in the good books of the governor and he refuses to assent to the chairman’s removal or suspension after 14 days. He said: “In such circumstance, what we are saying is through the two-third majority members in the House the chairman or  vice chairman stands removed. We don’t want anarchy, we don’t want anything that will destabilise the council.”

    Alimi pointed out the advantages and the disadvantages of the law. He said: “It will strengthen the administration of the local government. The chairmen would have enough time now to implement any project or programme they are working on. Secondly, a situation where the chairman believes that he is the alpha and omega of the local government, but with this law, he will see himself as somebody that is being watched by a superior arm of government. So, he will definitely do what he is expected to do. So, the law will strengthen administration of local government.”

    Yusuf said, apart from giving the chairmen more time for quality service delivery to the people, “there would also be more experience on their part and the new law ensures and enhances fairness, credibility, openness and equity. There would no longer be excuses for not being able to perform”.

     

     

    Sokunle said: “It would bring about stability in government and it would enable the chairmen to have capital projects because some projects will consume more than a year, so they have enough time to complete them. It would give them enough time to stabilise, settle down, focus on what to do, plan then execute, otherwise they would not be able to achieve much.

    “We considered both the advantages and disadvantages in the House before we reached the final conclusion and we realised that the advantages consumes all the disadvantages.”

    Akande said: “The law has its merits and demerits, but the merits are more than the demerits. So, that makes it a good law, it is germane.” He said that it will stabilise and enhance development at grassroots. He, however, said the PDP will look at it from another angle. The lawmaker raised some puzzles: “Does it not have a political undertone, in the sense that they will see it as a sort of advantage for the ruling party to be able to stampede their authority during elections? Is not going to be an undue advantage to the ruling party to be making use of the council money?”

  • Furore over new councils in Osun

    Furore over new councils in Osun

    The jury is still out on the creation of additional 31 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) by Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola. Correspondent ADESOJI ADENIYI examines the arguments for and against the councils.

    The creation of 31 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA), three area councils and two administrative councils, in addition to the existing 30 councils and one area office in Osun State, is generating ripples. The Area Councils are: Ife North (Oyere-Aborisade), Ede North (Owode Ede), and Ifelodun (Iba). The Administrative Offices are Orolu (Diisu-Ayekale) and Okinni (Okinni).

    Before creating the councils, Governor Rauf Aregbesola dissolved the management of the existing ones headed by the executive secretaries. Also, their deputies, special advisers and other functionaries were relieved of their duties.

    After several legal procedures, the request for additional councils by the people was sent to the House of Assembly through an executive bill. Aregbesola presented the bill to the House for the creation of additional 27 local council development areas from the existing 30 local government areas on December 16, 2013.

    Following the passage of the bill into law by the 26-member House, the government set up a committee headed by former Speaker Mojeed Alabi, now a member of the House of Representatives from Egbedore/Ejigbo Constituency, to look into how the state could create viable councils with sustainable socio-economic potentials. It took the committee some weeks to submit its report to the governor. At its inauguration, Aregbesola pointed out that the state would create local governments that will meet the required standards, noting that the basis for the exercise was the genuine desire and consent of the people.

    During the inauguration of the committee, the governor stressed that government is determined to ensure that all legal, technical and constitutional procedures are followed, hence, the referendum at the wards. He said: “As it is in democracy, what we are trying to do is to feel the pulse of the people to know what their preferences are. I am sure the state will not have any problem as being envisaged by some people because we will do everything possible to meet the constitutional requirement. We are working round the clock; as you can see, voting is taking place all over the state to know the feeling of our people on the creation of additional local governments. We will create councils that will meet all constitutional requirements. It is the genuine desire of the people for self-government.”

    Also, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) conducted a referendum. According to the its chairman, Otunba Oladunjoye Oladitan, the essence of the referendum was to authenticate the consent of the people. He noted that the turnout was overwhelming during the exercise. He said: “I am particularly impressed by the number of people that trooped out to vote; it has clearly shown that the people are actually desirous of having additional local governments. Our own assignment is just to conduct a referendum with the voters register at our disposal and thereafter send the result to the Osun House of Assembly for further action. The turnout witnessed today is overwhelming.”

    It was not a surprise, therefore, when the governor, in a recent broadcast, announced the creation of the councils. Various comnunities have been looking forward to it, because many of them had made requests for the sitting of the headquarters in their localities. As the governor made the announcement, many of them jubilated, agreeing with Aregbesola’s remark that the creation of the new councils at this time of financial challenges would help to achieve even development.

    According to the governor, procedures had been put in place to reduce cost amd foster development. He added that the primary responsibilities of the newly-created councils are to bring development to the people, ensure market management, revenue mobilisation and generation. The governor also said the state would be saving a huge cost, adding that the same number of staff will still run the councils and that new appointments will not be made.

    Aregbesola further disclosed that the local government system will be managed by Council Managers for three months. The managers shall be appointed and deployed by Local Government Service Commission from among the substantive grade level 14 officers in the local governments. He said: “Many would be wondering why we are creating more councils at this time of financial challenges. We have also given sufficient consideration to this. With this new parliamentary system, it will cost less to run the new councils and save a lot of money for the government than in the past. The beauty of this new system is its parliamentary nature, which requires the chairman and the vice chairman to be elected by the councillors from among their own ranks, thereby saving cost. Also, because the geographical space of the local government makes it the smallest unit of administration, it is easier to get things done at this level. The local government is also the ideal training ground for political leadership.”

    But, some community leaders are questioning what the government has done. For instance, some are of the view that the governor has introduced the parliamentary system in the local councils, without the backing of the constitution. They also doubt that running the councils as claimed by the governor would be cost effective. They referred to the governor’s claim that no new staff will be required for the new councils. Many are also wondering whether new secretariats will not be constructed or rented for effective administration of the new councils.

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) do not agree over the newly-created councils. While the PDP described the new LCDAs as “part of confusion introduced into governance by Aregbesola,” the APC congratulated the people, saying it is a step in the right direction. The Director of Publicity and Strategy, Osun PDP, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said  Aregbesola has introduced several confusions to governance. He said: “The creation of additional 31 LCDAs, when the existing 30 local government areas are unable to pay workers salaries, let alone embark on any developmental projects in the last five years of being in office, is an evidence that our governor is confused and bereft of ideas. Aregbesola is controversy personified and infusing such clumsiness into the governance of Osun State once a pride among states in the country, is now a laughing stock.

    But, the APC spokesman, Kunle Oyatomi, said: “It is a joyful culmination of the long-standing aspiration of the people to have government closest to their communities. This is one great moment for Osun State, because the landmark achievement of creating new local governments will further enhance peace within and between communities, as well as increase the potential for more efficient internally-generated revenue for the local governments and the state. So, people should stand firm and fully give their support to the government, which in spite of the financial challenges is ensuring that Osun is not standing still.”

    The House of Assembly has explained that the new LCDAs were those approved by it. According to the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the governor took a bold devision

    Observers say the creation of additional councils will be of mutual benefits to the government and people, because it would afford the government the opportunity to reach the grassroots and effectively monitor the generation of revenue. They also believe that it would create room for even development in all parts of the state.

    But, for these objectives to materialise, they added, there should not be acrimony and suspicion among communities, as presently being witnessed in some quarters. One of such observers said: “For instance, the people of Aagba, Ada and Ororuwo, have rejected the citing of headquarters of the recently established Boripe North LCDA in Iree and have thus demanded a reversal of the decision. The communities have written a protest letter to the governor. In the letter signed by Alaagba of Aagba, Oba Rufus Olayinka Ogunwole, Olona of Ada, Oba Abimbola Abioye, and the reagent of Ororuwo, High Chief James Dada, they maintained that the reversal was necessary because it was at variance with the content of the White Paper released on the memorandum written by the three communities in 2012.

    They complained that Iree was not part of the struggle for the creation of the new LCDA and Ada was proposed as the headquarters of Ifesowapo LCDA as presented by the three communities before the Prof. Alabi committee.

  • Lagos House takes up councils over 2015, 2016 budgets

    As part of its efforts to ensure good governance and accountability at the grassroots, three standing committees of Lagos State House of Assembly are currently holding talks with officials of the 57 local councils in the state on the performance of 2015 Budget and their proposals for the 2016 Budget, reports Oziegbe Okoeki

    IN its quest to ensure a proper and seamless budget process in Lagos State, three standing committees of the Lagos State House of Assembly: committees on budget and economic planning, local government administration and public account (local), led by its joint chairman, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, have been holding interface and discussion sessions on 2015 and 2016 budgets with officials of the 57 local councils in the state at the Assembly complex.

    While shedding light on the ongoing interface with local government officials over the budget performance for 2015 and 2016 budget proposals, Olowo said it became inevitable in order to engender good governance, probity and accountability.

    Speaking on the basis of the meetings, Olowo said: “There is no way you can talk about budget for 2016 without talking about 2015 performance, because 2016 is predicated on 2015 performance. We look at what they have done vis-à-vis what is coming in from the Federation Account and from tax. And we look at their performance vis-à-vis what is the ratio of capital to overhead to give us an insight on whether they have actually added value to their respective local governments.”

    Besides, he said, the peculiarities and the challenges Nigeria is facing today, has also made it very compelling for state governments to be ingenious in the way and manner they disburse funds.

    “We are trying to look at what is the real income coming from statutory allocation and what proportion of that must be spent on capital expenditure because all these while, we appreciate that more money is going to the recurrent to the detriment of capital expenditure. And more so, that they are trying to be on the same page with the state government by adopting MTBF -Medium Term Budget Framework.

    “So, what we are trying to do from our end is that, okay, ab initio, what is the total liability standing against the account of the local government, be it recurrent or capital expenditure? And what proportion of that is budgeted for, because over time, we’ve come to appreciate the fact that the outstanding debt is so huge that they don’t pay and they will embark on new projects. That will only tell you that many projects will become moribund. But if certain proportion, let’s say between 20 and 25 per cent of their revenue after they must have taken off personnel cost, is earmarked to service outstanding debt, that means in two-three years, they will be able to pay all outstanding debts and then all those projects would have been completed as against those that have been abandoned over the years. That is tantamount to waste. Jobs given in 2000-2001 and nobody is paying for it, obviously the contractor will be away and when that project is not completed, that means initial payment made becomes waste. So, those are the things we are guiding against.”

    In his assessment of the 2015 budget performance, the lawmaker said the only funding was the major constrain.

    “You know personnel cost, Lagos State has said it that we don’t want to lay off staff, and we don’t want to rationalise. The bulk of the staff in local government, many of them are redundant, doing nothing. But then when you face the reality of the moment, you know you cannot do otherwise than to accommodate them. But you know that has implication on the revenue of the local government, so by and large they’ve not been able to do great job because of paucity of funds. But what we are looking at is that we want to make overtures to state government at ensuring that whatever is due to them is paid timely, so that they can use it for capital expenditure and we are going to tie all grant to purely capital expenditure, no grant should be used to pay overhead or pay personnel.

    Explaining in details the process of monitoring execution or implementation, he said “there is a committee we call local government administration, it sees to the day-to-day oversight of the local governments, then the public account (local) will use local government Auditor-Generals’ report, if there are any queries, based on that they will be called to the House and they will use that to admonish them and if need be punish them according to the extant law.

    The lawmaker who acknowledged that Lagosians expect so much from the government and the councils, was however quick to add that the Ambode-led government is doing his bits.

    “The intervention of the state is not going to be limited to construction of roads. Maybe at intervals any money accruing to the state in support of local government he will come up with that.”

    On what the joint committee is doing on the issue of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Olowu said, “without revenue, budget cannot perform and IGR is an integral part of that. We have told the local governments that their IGR must be on upward swing. We told many of them to go back and give us a workable IGR projection that will make them to work; because leakages have to be blocked; there must be accountability and we must have proof and be able to track the budget for assessment and evaluation,” he said.

  • Monarchs, councils, others seek peace in Anambra schools

    Monarchs, councils, others seek peace in Anambra schools

    After years of rift between federal higher institutions and host communities in Anambra State, peace may be afoot following a parley hosted by three local councils. In attendance were traditional rulers, administrators of the schools and other stakeholders including the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

    Some of these institutions are the Federal Polytechnic Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area and Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze in Orumba South council.

    The rift often led to open confrontation between the host communities and the institutions. Many lives have been lost in the crises, a good number injured while properties have been destroyed in those areas.

    At issue is what has been referred to as sharing formula bordering on local content, with the communities alleging that the school administrators do not give the communities what is due to them. In a word, the institutions’ administrators have been accused of playing god.

    The traditional rulers of those kingdoms have also been accused of fuelling the crisis.

    For years, the impasse endured.

    That was why the Federal Character Commission (FCC), stormed the state seeking solutions to the rift.

    The event which was hosted by three local government areas of Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South, at the Orumba North council headquarters in Ajalli, was attended by their traditional rulers and Presidents General, among others.

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, while members of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) came in their numbers.

    The chairman of the commission, Dr. Shettima Bukar Abba was represented by Comrade Bunmi Ojo, the commissioner representing Ekiti State and Chairman, Publicity and Public Relations Committee.

    In his address, Abba said with the increasing misunderstanding between the management of federal institutions and the stakeholders of the host communities, the commission embarked on a nationwide public enlightenment programme to educate the public on the application of the FCC principle in recruitment.

    He said, “We believe that at the end of this meeting, everybody will be better informed on this principle.

    “The continued lopsidedness observed in the staff disposition of some federal institutions will no longer be tolerated as chief executives of the institutions will be held liable and accountable.”

    “In enforcing section 14 (3) and (4) of the Nigerian constitution, the commission ensures equitable and fair representation in recruitments and appointments in the public service and federal institutions among the federating units as well as a fair distribution of socio-economic and infrastructural facilities nationwide at the three tiers of government.”

    For Governor Obiano, the issue of federal character is what makes Nigeria a united force.

    He said there have been problems in most of these institutions which, according to them, create tension in such places, adding that federal institutions require the spirit of federal character.

    He said, “We should have peace and tranquility, let us eschew rancour in our institutions and communities, we create these problems ourselves, we should listen to the FCC for us to accommodate one another.”

    In his paper entitled “Location of higher institutions in a Nigeria community and the application of federal character principle” presented by Vincent Onobun, Director, State and Primary Affairs, said host communities should take the lead in making sure that the rules of FCC are carried to the later.

    He said all the conflicts between host communities and the institutions should cease because, according to him, they retard development in such areas.

    Furthermore, he said that it would be disastrous for host communities to fight for what belongs to all.

    However, the traditional ruler of Oko kingdom, Igwe Prof Laz Ekwueme was not happy that he was left in the dark over the arrangement by the FCC and the school authorities.

    He said the information they received was a good one, but never knew it was also going to turn into a political meeting.

    The monarch said woe betide anybody who supports that one man determines what happens in a higher institutions like Oko federal polytechnic, while responding to the statement by the monarch of Ufuma, Igwe Chika Uchime.

    Uchime had said that they had nightmares from the people of Oko, who according to him do not allow the management of the school to work freely, adding that they were not the owners of the institutions alone, but a collective ownership.

    Others who spoke while harping on peace included the secretary of (FCC), David Olufemi Fakaye, the commissioner representing Ebonyi state in (FCC), Dr Nte Mbam, president General of Ajalli, Bob Okorie-Orji among others.

  • Liberating our local government councils

    Liberating our local government councils

    This column rarely agrees with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s often trenchant, truculent, intemperate and superficial views on issues, events and personalities. It is my view that Chief Obasanjo is too preoccupied with diligently seeking to remove the speck in the eyes of others while steadfastly ignoring the monstrous log sticking out of his face, believing perhaps that it is an adornment of great attraction. His readiness to maul people he believes are his adversaries and to strip them naked in the market place, for me, symbolises an irritating and annoying sense of hubris. It also betrays a desperate bid to hide some deep-seated psychological disorientation beneath the garb of brashness and an unwarranted sense of self-importance.

    But there are times when you must be intellectually honest enough to admit that the man is right even while fundamentally disagreeing with his methods as well as his delusion that he is not also culpable for Nigeria’s post-colonial woes. He was given the rare and unprecedented opportunity to preside over the affairs of Nigeria, first as a military Head of State then an elected President for two terms. On the two occasions he left the country worse off. But then, I digress. Obasanjo certainly got it right, for instance, when he recently wrote an excoriating letter to the National Assembly leadership vehemently condemning the humongous, opaque and immoral amounts of public resources the legislators appropriate to themselves annually for the most frivolous reasons. His stance resonated, well with large swathes of the public because of the grim economic crisis under which millions of Nigerians are suffering in agony.

    The defensive response of some of the legislators was to the effect that as President, Obasanjo tried to induce the National Assembly to give a stamp of legality to his aborted Third Term agenda designed to perpetuate himself in office. In other words, he has no business moralising to the National Assembly because corruption was rife in the system even when Obasanjo was Head of State. This surely cannot be a credible defence. The import of this reasoning is that the legislators are conceding that they are criminally enriching themselves to the detriment of the welfare of the vast majority of Nigerians because there was corruption in the system before their election as national legislators. The reasoning is untenable.

    Obasanjo’s remarks at the inaugural conference of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (IGPP) at the University of Ibadan, on Monday, February 1, were also largely true and thought provoking although he opened himself to charges of hypocrisy, which may not be entirely untenable. On that occasion, Obasanjo attributed Nigeria’s stunted growth to state governors who, in his view, allegedly divert huge revenue allocations meant for the Local Government Councils to other purposes. The governors, according to Obasanjo had rendered public institutions in their domains irrelevant for all practical purposes.

    In Obasanjo’s searing words – “Is there good governance in the 36 states of the federation where some governors have become sole administrators acting like Emperors? These governors have rendered public institutions irrelevant and useless. Is there development going on in the 774 constitutionally recognised local governments which are known to have been appropriated by governors? And, of course, when governors take their money, the chairmen of the councils take the balance of the money, put it on the table and share among council members”.

    Lamenting that Nigeria has not internalised the necessary values imperative for the sustenance of presidentialism and federalism Obasanjo said: “When are we going to able to practice federalism in a way that promotes healthy competition among the states for the benefit of the citizens? When are we going to subordinate partisanship to collective goals and deploy the full potential of our diversity to advance public causes that serve the aspirations of the teeming masses of our people crying out under the cringe of poverty, disease, unemployment and neglect’”.

    Of course, many will dismiss Obasanjo’s lamentations here as nothing but deceptive and sanctimonious posturing. And they surely have a point. Obasanjo has no right to claim that any governor is behaving like an emperor and undermine public institutions. He is the least qualified person to lecture any one on the virtues of federalism. As President of Nigeria for eight years – 1999 and 2007, Obasanjo behaved like an imperial President. He was the ultimate President as Emperor. He manipulated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to impeach governors through ways that flagrantly breached the constitution.

    He forcefully and illegally withheld the allocation of funds meant for Local Government Councils in Lagos just because the state exercised her constitutional right to create 37 new councils. Up till the end of his tenure, Obasanjo refused to obey the Supreme Court judgement affirming that the Federal Government had no right or powers to withhold any funds statutorily allocated to any tier of government.

    Beyond this, in his sweeping generalization of the governors as being responsible for the country’s stunted development, Obasanjo does not take into account the skewed fiscal allocation formula that allocates over 57% of the country’s revenues to the Federal Government while the 36 states and 774 Local Government Councils share approximately 43%. Where then can the funds be to fuel development in a meaningful manner especially when the constitution constricts many states, especially the states rich in mineral and other natural resources, from exploiting such endowment for the greatest happiness of the greatest number of their people. Obasanjo had the opportunity as two-term President for eight years to bequeath to the nation a viable revenue allocation formula that reflects genuine fiscal federalism and enables all tiers of government to serve as engines of development in their respective zones. He failed abysmally and woefully in this regard.

    But then, it will be most irresponsible and unproductive to throw the baby away with the bathwater. We must distinguish between the messenger and the message. The critical point Obasanjo raises centres on how the 774 Local Government areas can be made viable and development-driven.  It is a genuine concern we must all share. Local governments across the country are widely perceived as citadels of corruption and sordid emblems of inefficiency and manifest unproductivity. Obasanjo’s claim that state governors divert monies accruing to Local Government Councils is only part of the story.  The truth is that even with the funds available to them, the various councils could still do much more than they are presently.

    Some have recommended that the States/Local Government Joint Account to which all monies accruing to the Local Government from the Federation Account are paid before being distributed to the Local Governments should be scrapped. They believe this will enhance the autonomy of Local Governments    by enabling them to receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account. This arrangement could be fraught with danger of tying the Local Governments to the apron string of the Federal Government and strengthening the centralist impulses in the federation at the expense of the greater decentralisation we desire.

    Others have suggested that the idea of elected Local Governments under the control of the states should be done away with and replaced with that of administrative local units under the total control of the state government. Yet others contend that the presidential system obtainable at the local government should be discarded and the local councils resort to the parliamentary system that was the practice before the various local government reforms of the military era.  These suggestions are simply ways of running away from rather than solving the problem. To do away with elected local government councils will rob grassroots communities the opportunity to participate in deciding who governs them at the tier of government closest to the ordinary man.  In the same vein, a reversion to the parliamentary system at the local government level cannot solve any problem. The values that sabotage and make a presidential system of government unworkable will also have the same effect on a parliamentary style of government.

    Although there are no easy solutions to the emergence of a viable, vigorous, transparent and effective Local Government system, I offer one suggestion as a starting point. And that is to ensure free, fair and credible elections at the grassroots where votes are not just counted but they actually count. This will entail either scrapping the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) and transferring their functions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or strengthening the autonomy of SIEC and transform them  from the cruel mockery of democracy and integrity they are today. A vibrant electoral process at the grass roots that lets people have a genuine say in who  or which party governs them at any point in time will begin to create the real revolutionary ferment at the grassroots that will also strengthen democracy at other levels of government.